Shelby County Reporter
115 Main St.
Columbiana, AL35051
(205) 669-3131
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The Community

Geographic location
Shelby County is located in the geographic center of the state of Alabama. Terrain ranges from mountainous to flat to hilly.

Market
The market is growing and has an extremely low unemployment rate. The economy is driven by a mix of industrial and retail businesses.

Population
Shelby County has more than 158,000 people. Shelby County is the fastest growing county in Alabama and the US.

Climate
Shelby County experiences a typical Southern climate with warm, humid summers and mild winters.

Major employers
Shelby County has had the lowest unemployment in the state for some time. Industries range from Bud's Best Cookies in North Shelby to ABC Rail in Calera. There are numerous lime plants spread throughout the county as well.

Education
Shelby County has one school system with the central office located in the county seat, Columbiana. The school system consists of 33 schools, elementary, middle and high schools, as well as a School to Technology and Linda Nolen Learning Center. The school system tries to build at least one school per year. The Shelby County system has more than 23,500 students. The school system employs about 1,500 professional employees, more than 2,550 including bus drivers and support personnel.

Shelby County is home to the University of Montevallo, Alabama's only liberal arts college, and one of the only of the sort in the United States. UM is located in Montevallo. Jefferson State Community College is also maintains a campus in north Shelby County. The county is near to several other institutions, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa.

History
Shelby County was created by an act of the Mississippi Territorial General Assembly on February 7, 1817. It is named for Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary War soldier and a governor of Kentucky.

Culture
Shelby County is located in the center of the state. We have all manner of entertainment choices available.including the Oak Mountain Amphitheater, all sorts of museums including the only railroad museum in Alabama.

Recreation
Oak Mountain State Park is located in the center of Shelby County. Features include hiking, biking, a lake and more. Lay Lake is located in the southern part of Shelby County. It is the site of innumerable large-mouthed bass and the site of the BASSMasters Classic during the summer. Also held in Shelby County is the Bruno's Memorial Classic, a stop on the Senior PGA tour. Shelby County has a state-of-the-art racquet club, numerous golf courses, a soccer club and anything else you could want for recreation.

Area information
Shelby County is home to five chambers of commerce.

The Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, 663-4542.

Hoover Chamber of Commerce, 988-5672.

Calera Chamber of Commerce, 668-3023.

Montevallo Chamber of Commerce, 665-1519.

South Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, 669-9075.

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